Estimating utility value for female genital mutilation

Background: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a clear violation of women's rights and can have adverse and irreversible health effects as well. Worldwide, more than 200 million women and girls have undergone FGM/C. Utility value of FGM/C has not been estimated yet, so we designed this study to extract the health utility value of FGM/C for the first time in the world. Methods: In a cross-sectional study in Iran, 125 girls and women who underwent FGM/C procedure were examined by the trained midwives in order to determine its type. In addition, a questionnaire was completed for identifying the socio-demographic factors and extracting the health utility of these individuals. Health utility was measured using Time Trade-off method and also to determine the effects of the socio-demographic factors on the health utility a two-limit censored regression model was applied. Results: The mean and median of the health utility of women with FGM/C were 0.971 (SE: 0.003) and 0.968 (IQR: 1-0.95), respectively. Number of non-Traders was 58 (46.4) who reported perfect health utility. However, the mean of health utility among traders was 0.946 (SE: 0.002). Only type 1 (Clitoridectomy) and type 2 (Excision) FGM/C were seen in this study. Women with Type 1 FGM/C had significantly lower health utility value (Mean: 0.968, Median: 0.957) than their type 2 counterparts (Mean: 0.987, Median: 1.00). Moreover, women in the age group of 31-45 years (Mean: 0.962, Median: 0.956), single (Mean: 0.950, Median: 0.954), divorced (Mean: 0.951, Median: 0.950), employed (Mean: 0.959, Median: 0.956), and with supplementary insurance (Mean: 0.962, Median: 0.950) had significantly lower health utility than their counterparts. Conclusion: FGM/C affects physical and psychological well-being of these individuals, resulting in a lack of personal and marital satisfaction, which ultimately leads to a 3 reduction in their health related quality of life. Therefore, preventing from this practice is very important and should be considered by health system policy makers more than before. © 2020 The Author(s)

The Effect of Education on Health-Promoting Behaviors at the First Six Weeks Post-delivery on the Quality of Life of Primiparous Women

Background & Aim: Postpartum period is one of the vital stages in the women’s life which influences their quality of life. Instruction can influence their quality of life in this period. This study aimed to determine the effect of education on health-promoting behaviors at the postpartum period on the quality of life of primiparous women. Methods: The present controlled randomized trail study was carried out on 52 primiparous women who were randomly allocated into two groups (experimental and control). Instruction was presented for the experimental group for six weeks after childbirth. Quality of life of women between the two groups was compared by using Specific Postnatal Quality of life questionnaire at the first and sixth weeks. Data were analyzed by Chi-square and Independent T-test. Results: Results showed a significant difference between the mean score of quality of life pre-and post-intervention between the two groups (P<0.001), but this difference in the experimental group was more compared to the control group. Also, this difference in the 5 dimensions of quality of life (feeling about herself, baby, spouse, sexual activity, and health) in the experimental group was more compared to the control group (P<0.001). Conclusion: The results indicated that health promoting can be effective in improving quality of life of primiparous women. Therefore, health care providers should focus on this important issue

Anwendung von Twitter und Web News Mining in Überwachungssystemen für Infektionskrankheiten und Perspektiven der öffentlichen Gesundheit

Aims: With the advancements of communication technology and growing access to social networks, these networks now play an important role in the dissemination of information and news without going through the time-consuming channels of official news networks. Analysis of social networking data is a new, interesting branch of text mining science. This study aimed to develop a text mining technique for extracting information about infectious diseases from tweets and news on social media.Methods: A method called "Fuzzy Algorithm for Extraction, Monitoring, and Classification of Infectious Diseases" (FAEMC-ID) was developed by the use of fuzzy modeling of the Takagi-Sugeno-Kang type. In addition to the real-time classification, the method is able to update its vocabulary for new keywords and visualize the classified data on the world map to mark the high risk areas.Results: As an example, the monitoring was performed for measles-related news items over a 183-hour period from 01/03/2019 (01:00 am) to 08/03/2019 (12:00 pm), which were related to 2,870 tweets from 2,556 users. This monitoring showed that the number of tweets posted from each region ranged from 1 to 47, with the highest number, 47 tweets, belonging to Canada. The origins of most measles-related news were in the Americas and Europe, and they were mostly from the United States and Canada.Conclusion: The performance analysis of the developed method in comparison with other algorithms in the literature demonstrated the excellent precision of the method with a recall ratio of 88.41% and the high inter-correlation of data in each class. The proposed algorithm can also be used in the development of more effective monitoring and tracking systems for other human and even animal health hazards.Zielsetzung: Mit der Weiterentwicklung der Kommunikationstechnologie und dem wachsenden Zugang zu sozialen Netzwerken spielen diese Netzwerke eine wichtige Rolle zur Verbreitung von Informationen und Nachrichten, ohne dass die zeitaufwendigen Kanäle offizieller Nachrichtennetzwerke durchlaufen werden müssen. Die Analyse sozialer Netzwerkdaten ist ein neuer, interessanter Zweig der Text-Mining-Wissenschaft. Diese Studie zielt darauf ab, eine Text-Mining-Technik zu entwickeln, um Informationen über Infektionskrankheiten aus Tweets und Nachrichten in sozialen Medien zu extrahieren.Methode: Als Analysemethode wurde der sog. "Fuzzy-Algorithmus zur Extraktion, Überwachung und Klassifizierung von Infektionskrankheiten" (FAEMC-ID) unter Verwendung des Fuzzy-Modells des Takagi-Sugeno-Kang-Typs entwickelt. Zusätzlich zur Echtzeitklassifizierung kann die Methode neue Schlüsselwörter aktualisieren und die klassifizierten Daten auf der Weltkarte visualisieren, um Hochrisikobereiche zu markieren.Ergebnisse: Als Beispiel wurde das Monitoring für Nachrichten mit Bezug zu Masern über einen Zeitraum von 183 Stunden vom 01.03.2014 (01:00 Uhr) bis 08.03.2014 (12:00 Uhr) durchgeführt, das 2.870 Tweets von 2.556 Benutzern umfasste. Das Monitoring ergab als Anzahl der von jeder Region geposteten Tweets 1 und 47 mit der höchsten Anzahl von 47 Tweets aus Kanada. Der Ursprung der meisten Nachrichten über Masern war in Amerika und Europa; die Tweets stammten größtenteils aus den Vereinigten Staaten und Kanada.Schlussfolgerung: Die Analyse der entwickelten Methode liefert im Vergleich zu anderen Algorithmen in der Literatur eine ausgezeichnete Präzision mit einer Rückrufquote von 88,41% und einer hohen Interkorrelation der Daten in jeder Klasse. Der vorgeschlagene Algorithmus kann auch zur Entwicklung wirksamer Überwachungs- und Nachverfolgungssysteme für andere Gesundheitsgefahren für Mensch und Tier verwendet werden

A comparative assessment of enamel mineral content and Streptococcus mutans population between conventional composites and composites containing nano amorphous calcium phosphate in fixed orthodontic patients: A split-mouth randomized clinical trial

Objectives: The aim of this 'split-mouth design' trial was to evaluate the effect of the nano amorphous calcium phosphate (NACP) containing composite on enamel mineral contents and streptococcus mutans population in fixed orthodontic patients. Design, setting, participants, and intervention: Randomized, prospective, single-center controlled trial. Twenty-four patients between the ages of 13-18 years participated in this study. The control and test sides were randomly selected by a coin toss (1:1 ratio). On the control side orthodontic brackets were bonded on the buccal surfaces of upper premolars and laterals using an orthodontic composite (Transbond XT), and on the study side NACP-containing composite was used. Outcome measures were the mineral content around the brackets and S.mutans count. The later were calculated in the plaque around the brackets by real-time PCR at 3 months, and 6 months after the initiation of treatment. All stages of the study were blind using coding system. Paired t-test and repeated measurements were used for data analysis. Results: In the third and sixth month, the bacterial population was significantly lower in the study side than the control side (P = 0.01 and 0.000).The mineral content of the study side was significantly higher than the controls, 6 months after brocket bonding (P = 0.004). There were no significant differences between the premolars and lateral teeth for all measurements. Limitations: This research was performed in a single-center by one experienced clinician. Conclusion: NACP-containing composites have the potential to inhibit mineral content loss and S.mutans colonization around orthodontic brackets during fixed orthodontic treatments. Trial registration: This trial was not registered. Protocol: The protocol was not published before trial commencement. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Orthodontic Society. All rights reserved

Determination of gyrA and parC mutations and prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from patients with urinary tract infection in Iran

Objectives: Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are recommended as the drugs of choice for the empirical treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs). This study investigated the molecular determinants of FQ resistance in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Iran. Methods: A total of 364 clinical isolates of E. coli (n = 144) and K. pneumoniae (n = 220) were collected from patients with UTI. Susceptibility of the isolates to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin and nalidixic acid was evaluated by disk diffusion. The presence of qnrA, qnrB and qnrS genes was assessed by PCR. Nucleotide sequences of the gyrA and parC genes were determined. Results: Eighty-seven (60.4) and 15 (6.8) E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates, respectively, were resistant to at least one of the tested FQs. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes were detected in 12.6 and 60.0 of FQ-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae, respectively. Whilst qnrB predominated in K. pneumoniae, qnrS was the most prevalent PMQR gene in E. coli. S83L (98.9) and D87N (59.8) were the most frequent mutations identified in GyrA of E. coli, and 55.2 (n = 48) of FQ-resistant E. coli isolates had mutation in ParC harbouring S80I and E84V substitutions. The GyrAS83L substitution was found in only one FQ-resistant K. pneumoniae isolate. Conclusions: FQ resistance was much more common in E. coli isolates than in K. pneumoniae. Whilst mutations in the drug target-encoding genes gyrA and parC were the major mechanisms involved in FQ resistance in E. coli, PMQR determinants commonly mediated FQ resistance in K. pneumoniae. © 201

Determination of gyrA and parC mutations and prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from patients with urinary tract infection in Iran

Objectives: Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are recommended as the drugs of choice for the empirical treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs). This study investigated the molecular determinants of FQ resistance in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Iran. Methods: A total of 364 clinical isolates of E. coli (n = 144) and K. pneumoniae (n = 220) were collected from patients with UTI. Susceptibility of the isolates to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin and nalidixic acid was evaluated by disk diffusion. The presence of qnrA, qnrB and qnrS genes was assessed by PCR. Nucleotide sequences of the gyrA and parC genes were determined. Results: Eighty-seven (60.4) and 15 (6.8) E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates, respectively, were resistant to at least one of the tested FQs. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes were detected in 12.6 and 60.0 of FQ-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae, respectively. Whilst qnrB predominated in K. pneumoniae, qnrS was the most prevalent PMQR gene in E. coli. S83L (98.9) and D87N (59.8) were the most frequent mutations identified in GyrA of E. coli, and 55.2 (n = 48) of FQ-resistant E. coli isolates had mutation in ParC harbouring S80I and E84V substitutions. The GyrAS83L substitution was found in only one FQ-resistant K. pneumoniae isolate. Conclusions: FQ resistance was much more common in E. coli isolates than in K. pneumoniae. Whilst mutations in the drug target-encoding genes gyrA and parC were the major mechanisms involved in FQ resistance in E. coli, PMQR determinants commonly mediated FQ resistance in K. pneumoniae. © 201